Scout Notes

Scout Notes – Last 16 – Day 3

Italy dethroned Spain with a style and application utterly lacking in an England side who surrendered in embarrassing fashion to tournament underdogs Iceland.

That spelled the end for Roy Hodgson on a day of drama and despair at Euro 2016.

Italy 2 Spain 0

A tactical master class from Italy ensured that Spain’s second defence of their European Championship crown ended at the Round of 16 stage.

Antonio Conte’s 3-5-2 system enabled the team to press from the front, forcing David de Gea to clear long on frequent occasions, while the Azzurri midfield starved their exalted Spanish counterparts of any time and space.

If not for De Gea, who made five saves, three of which were outstanding, Italy would have been home and hosed long before Graziano Pelle (8.5) swept home substitute Matteo Darmian’s (5.4) injury-time cross.

They had taken the lead in the 33rd minute, Giorgio Chiellini (6.0) stabbing in after De Gea could only parry an Eder (6.5) free kick, with Emanuel Giaccherini (5.1) supplying an assist to move into second overall in the Uefa game.

Pelle and Eder worked superbly together up front, finishing with three attempts apiece, with the Southampton striker also creating two chances.

Alessandro Florenzi (6.9) retained his place in the continued absence of Antonio Candreva (7.5) through injury and excelled at right wing-back, putting over a match-high six crosses, creating a chance and completing two interceptions for solid DraftKings returns.

Vicente Del Bosque changed his forward line three times, to little effect, with Alvaro Morata, owned by 25% of Uefa game managers and the second most popular pick (at 28%) in our daily captaincy poll, largely anonymous.

Indeed, it was a defender, Gerard Pique, who came closest to scoring, only for Gigi Buffon (6.0) to react smartly to his lunging attempt.

That would have been harsh on an Italian side who out-fought and out-thought their opponents.

‘Together Stronger’ is the motto Wales have adopted in recent times, but it sits just as well on an Italian team shorn of stars but full of grit, intelligence and unity.

With an average age a shade under 29 years, Italy have the fifth oldest squad at the tournament, and that could well be a factor as the big matches pile up.

Throw in a peaking Germany as their quarter-final opponents, and things aren’t exactly going to get easier, but if they come close to the performance levels they managed against Spain, they will be a match for anyone.

Italy also managed to get through with just the one player suspended for the Germany tie – Thiago Motta (4.9), usually only used as a substitute.

England 1 Iceland 2

England exited Euro 2016 in wretched fashion, tamed by an Iceland side who took their chances and then sat back and watched the Three Lions fall apart.

The received wisdom was that if England scored early, Iceland would be forced to abandon their deep-lying set-up, providing Roy Hodgson’s pacier team with the attacking space denied them in the tournament to date.

It didn’t quite work out that way.

Hodgson seemed to have developed a taste for big calls in France, and recalling Raheem Sterling was his latest gamble. Three minutes into the match, it paid off when the much-maligned Manchester City man earned a penalty that Wayne Rooney converted.

That was as good as it got for England.

The lead lasted precisely 34 seconds, Ragnar Sigurdsson (5.5) latching on to Kari Arnason’s (5.5) flick to level.

Another Joe Hart blunder in the 19th minute then handed Iceland an unlikely lead, the England goalkeeper failing to keep out a low shot from Kolbeinn Sigthorsson (6.9) despite getting a hand to it.

The stats told a familiar story – England dominated possession (69%-31%) and attempts (18-8), but managed just four shots on target. Iceland had five.

Our Captain Poll favourite, Eric Dier, proved a major disappointment after he was hauled off at the break as Hodgson unsuccessfully opted for Jack Wilshere to turn matters around for his struggling side.

Hodgson stood down after the match, a desperate end to an underwhelming four years, with his last fixture in charge particularly abject. England lost possession 17 times, had 19 bad touches and forced Hannes Halldorsson (5.0) into just three saves.

Iceland’s tournament has more than a whiff of Greece in Euro 2004 about it, but their players will still struggle to appeal in the Uefa game, given they face France in the next round and, potentially either Germany or Italy, should they proceed past the tournament favourites.

The six goals they’ve scored have been shared among six different players, they’ve kept no clean sheets and have managed just 31 attempts – Ukraine, who went home after three matches and no goals, had 39.

It’s a slightly different story in DraftKings, where Sigurdsson’s goal, three fouls drawn, two tackles won and five interceptions brought big returns.

However huge the pressure will be on France, they will surely handle it better than England, reducing Iceland’s players to the role of budget enablers and DraftKing utility slots.

477 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Diego Hazard
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 9 months ago

    Why does it say -16 points before I've made any transfers?????

    1. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      Cause a clown runs the show, just ignore it would be my advice.

  2. JÆKS ⭐
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 9 months ago

    Neuer or Lloris ?

    Lloris has the better fixture on paper but a weaker defence and they won't get a cs against Italy or Germany the game after

    Neuer has a difficult game against Italy but if they go through I think they will have more chance on a cs against France

    1. Blurryface
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      Lloris

    2. Kun Tozser
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      Why not Buffon?

      1. JÆKS ⭐
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 9 months ago

        Already have Giaccherini, don't fancy them enough to double up 😀

        1. Kun Tozser
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 9 months ago

          I'm on Neuer with Gia - hedging my bets that game

          1. JÆKS ⭐
            • 9 Years
            7 years, 9 months ago

            Haha indeed, well could have formulated my question better actually, it's either

            A) Neuer + Vertonghen (double Belgian def)
            B) Lloris + Hector

            1. Kun Tozser
              • 8 Years
              7 years, 9 months ago

              A could see them both in the final
              B looks good for this round

  3. Blurryface
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 9 months ago

    Is it good to go with 2 german attackers versus a resolute Italian defence?

    1. My Name Is Prince
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      No...

    2. JÆKS ⭐
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      Def not

    3. Blurryface
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      Cheers 😀

  4. Blurryface
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 9 months ago

    Thoughts on this team after 4 transfers

    Hennesey DDG*
    Giacherreni Rami* Jedrejczyc Hector Munier
    KDB Payet Sachez Ramsey Draxler
    Ronaldo Bale Lukaku

    The concerns obviously are DDG n Rami but dont wanna take any hits

    1. secret_account
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      Looks good, but you only have one French player to play with the easiest fixture of the lot. What were your transfers from?

      1. Blurryface
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 9 months ago

        Dier->Gia
        Alli->Sanchez
        Perisic->Drax
        Morata->Ronny

        1. dan_247
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 9 months ago

          Fab/Neur

          Chester/hector/kosc/rami/Meunier

          Sanch/kdb/drax/Payet/Ramsay

          Ronnie/bale/lukaku

          Thoughts? Have taken out walker, muller, perisic and Ali

  5. Crouching Tiger
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 9 months ago

    RMWCT

    Fabianski - Lloris
    Meunier - Giaccherini - Hector - Sagna - Guerreiro
    Hazard - Payet - Draxler - Parolo - Nainggolan
    Bale - Ronaldo - Griezmann

  6. StoichkovFPL
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 9 months ago

    Only 4 out, players left:
    Henn
    Hector, Meunier, Guerrero
    KDB, Kroos, Payet, Rambo
    Bale, Ronaldo, Gru

    A) Kozacik,Dier,Rami,Perisic --> Lloris,Jędza,Gia,Draxler save WC and have 15 playing players

    B) use WC and almost the same team (Lloris,Bale,Gru to Rui,Grizmann,Gomez) and squeeze Hazard in for Rambo

    1. HVT
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      B

      1. HVT
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 9 months ago

        Number of free transfers
        Group stage: one per matchday
        Round of 16: unlimited
        Quarter-finals: 4
        Semi-finals: 6
        Final: 6

        With 6/6 after this round and MD dwindling you will be fine.

  7. Moore FPL
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 9 months ago

    Best captain option for day 3? Gomez?
    Have Ronaldo, Bale, Payet the other days.

  8. Ahh! Sister Assumpta!
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 9 months ago

    RMT Wildcard Activated!!
    Out are De Gea, Iniesta, Morata, DIERstraights, Sommer, Ramsey, Strinic, Perisic & Rami (S)

    New Team??
    Fabianski
    Boateng, Hector, Jędrzejczyk, Meunier
    Nainggolan??, KDB (C2), Draxler, Grosicki (C1)
    Muller (C3) & Lukaku
    Llros, Greizman, Payet (C4) & Kosc

    1. 1justlookin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      draxler likely to play & will he do anything against Italy?

  9. KING KOUNDER
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 9 months ago

    Guys..any reports on who will replace Kante ?

    Cabaye, Sissokho or Coman ?

    1. Margarido
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      Sissoko a nice differential.
      Maybe he can play on the right.

      Griezman #10 and Payet left

  10. 1justlookin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 9 months ago

    need some help please. Is it worth WC this?

    neuer. McGovern
    hector. Meunier. Gunter. Rami. Dier.
    Hazard. Payet. Ramsey. Alli. Perisic
    Lukaku. Bale. Muller.

  11. 1justlookin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 9 months ago

    Is Guerreiro really likely to play against Poland?

    Is Draxler likely to play against Italy?

    Whats Naingollan stats like? Better punt than Witsel?

  12. 1justlookin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 9 months ago

    Is there any point saving your WC when you have 6 free transfers for the semi's?

    1. gazza0088
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      I don't think so myself

  13. gazza0088
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 9 months ago

    Why wouldn't you go balls to the wall France and Belgium with your wildcard?

    Courtois / Patricio
    Koscielny / Sagna / Meunier / Giach / (Guerreiro)
    De Bruyne / Hazard / Payet / Pogba / (Kroos)
    Lukaku / Griezmann / (Eder)

    1. Creedey
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      This!!

  14. ramunas
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 9 months ago

    Is it possible to leave players in my squad from a team who have been knocked out, so that I can use all 4 transfers on other players if I want??

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      You'll just have less that 15 available players.

      1. ramunas
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 9 months ago

        Thanks. Interesting...

  15. enourouz
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 9 months ago

    Subs?

    Is it worth thinking about subs this late in the tournament. Only 4 match days this round.

    Got a few players that were eliminated last round. Leave them on the bench and just focus on the starting 11?

    Who is in favor of subs? Chime in.

  16. Class of 92
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 9 months ago

    This fantasy mcdonald website is useless. I made 4 transfers but only 3 went through yet i'm showing 0 free transfers. Any one know who to contact for this? i can't seem to find a troublesh00t email address

  17. Stonerrocks
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 9 months ago

    Apologies if this has already bee asked but does the wildcard work in the same way as FPL - i.e. when activated it remains activate for unlimited changes until that window closes OR can it only be used to make unlimited changes for one set of transfers if you see what I mean? Please can people confirm? Thanks 🙂

  18. Mezz1
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 9 months ago

    Thoughts on the following Team please guys. Activated Wildcard
    .
    Patricio / Lloris
    Giaccherini / Meunier / Pepe / Sagna / Evra
    De Bruyne / Hazard / Kroos / Parolo / Payet
    Greizmann / Nani / Pelle

    Captains
    Nani
    KDB
    Giaccherini
    Greizman

    thanks in advance

  19. ArsenalWenger
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 9 months ago

    RMT please. Used my transfers to get the following (Used WC already):

    Rui Patricio / Lloris
    Gia / Jed / Meunier / Rami* / Vermaelen*
    Draxler / Kroos / Ozil / Payet / Ramsey
    Bale / CR / Griezmann

    *Suspended this round

    Any of these worth trading out if it means -4pts per transfer?